Mayor Sarno states, “Art Carrington, much like Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, is truly a pioneer whose love for the game paved the way for so many to follow in their footsteps including the great Serena and Venus Williams. His love for the game lives on through his Carrington Tennis Academy, where he still teaches with his son. Together they teach the next generation of tennis players and share with them the love and history of the game.”
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Mayor Sarno and State Representative Williams Honor Renowned African-American Tennis Pioneer Art Carrington
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Mayoral Aide Lavar Click-Bruce joined with state Representative Bud Williams and Andrew Cade, Senior Vice President for the Urban League of Springfield, to honor renowned African-American tennis pioneer Art Carrington on Saturday, August 20th at Blunt Park with a special mayoral proclamation. Carrington, who learned to play at the all-Black North End Tennis Club in Elizabeth, NJ in the 1950’s and 1960’s, made national headlines in 1972 during the American Tennis Association (ATA) Championships where he lost in the finals to Horace Reid in five exciting sets. Carrington would go on to win the title the following year. In 1980, he opened the Carrington Tennis Academy at Hampshire College and for over 40 years has taught thousands of players how to play the game that he has loved.